Saint John Paul II National Shrine

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. We turn to the words of our beloved Patron to help us contemplate upon this ineffable mystery of divine love and communion.

“In the space of a week we are celebrating two solemnities - the Holy Trinity and Corpus Christi - that fully manifest the nature of this Holy Year, which is both Trinitarian and Eucharistic. There is only one ‘way,’ one ‘door’ to the mystery of God's Love: Jesus, who was born, died and rose again to give life to every person. Before dying on the Cross as a victim of expiation for our sins, he left to the Church the memorial of his redeeming sacrifice: the sacrament of the Eucharist.” - JPII, 06/18/00

St. John Paul II, pray for us!

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, Homily (June 10, 2001) | John Paul II: https://ow.ly/Qy4350YzoJr
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, Angelus (June 18, 2000) | John Paul II: https://ow.ly/Mthr50YzoJt

Icon of the New Testament Trinity at the Cleveland Art Museum (wiki common: public domain)

We continue to pray for all Victims of Abuse through the powerful intercession of St. Joan of Arc.
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Born in the Champagne region of France in 1412, Joan of Arc was skilled in spinning and sewing. A pious child, she heard interior locutions, such as the voice of St. Michael. She later had a vision of the great archangel, St. Margaret and St. Catherine. In 1428, the visions urged Joan to offer her services to King Charles VII, who was fighting the invading English. Joan was urged to dress in male clothing, both as a disguise and to guard her purity. Soldier’s clothing of that time had numerous cords tying the hip-high boots and trousers to the tunic.

The King placed Joan at the head of the army, and the battles she led defeated the larger English army. In early 1430 her saints told her of capture before June 24. Betrayed and ambushed on June 23, Joan was tried by the English. Kept in a secular prison with male guards who repeatedly tried to r**e her, her soldier’s clothing prevented violation.

At her trial, Joan was the only witness. Convicted of being a recusant heretic because of her clothes, the corrupt court sentenced her to die the next day, May 30, 1431. Benedict XVI writes that the Name of Jesus was invoked by St. Joan until the very last moments of her earthly life — like the continuous breathing of her soul and the beating of her heart. Her executioner later confessed that he feared damnation because he had burned a saint.

Joan’s case was appealed, resulting in the charge’s nullification. She was declared a martyr, paving the way for her canonization by Benedict XV. Her feast day is May 30.

St. Joan of Arc, pray for us!
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Benedict XVI's address on St. Joan of Arc: https://ow.ly/NQxN50W1kyN

“The liberation of her people was a work of human justice which Joan carried out in charity, for love of Jesus. Her holiness is a beautiful example for lay people engaged in politics, especially in the most difficult situations.”— Pope Benedict XVI

Mother Ursula (born Julia) Ledóchowska founded the Grey Ursulines, or Congregation of Ursulines of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus. After the Communist revolution, Ursula and her Sisters were expelled from Russia and settled in Sweden. There, Ursula continued to educate girls—especially those who were displaced by war or unrest—by starting schools for science and language.
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St. Ursula, blessed Sister of Poland, you spent your life educating young women despite opposition from Communists— please pray that all may appreciate the beauty and gift of authentic femininity! St. John Paul II, pray for us!
Canonization Homily: https://ow.ly/4ORh50W13UW
Image: Poznań, Church of Saint Adalbert, stained-glass window (wiki commons: public domain)